Dear Readers …A time crunch has descended upon this writer with increased duties required close to home as my daughter finishes up her research and Lilly who is now 15 months old expands her world and mine with more and more outside activities such a pre-pre school/swimming and museums … While I will take some time away from posting I will definitely keep up with the summer Commission meetings as well as all the behind the scenes info that keeps coming my way… There are two regular Commission meetings in July on the 12th (backup is online) and the 26th (a 5:30 pm adopt fire assessment/proposed millage rate budget meeting precedes the 7 pm regular meeting)…They will meet once in August and they should know by then about a date for the next Municipal election most likely to take place sometime in January 2012 ..In September they return back for two regular Commission meetings as well as two public budget hearings for fiscal year 2011-12 .. Sept 12, 2011 – 7:00 p.m. – 1st Public Hearing (Adopt Final Fire Assessment, Tentative Millage & Tentative Budget) /Sept 26, 2011 – 7:00 p.m. – 2nd Public Hearing (Adopt Final Millage & Budget)….The Town Manager Evaluation is in September as well …

Feel free to go back and take a look at the archives dating back to 2008 and make sure you as a taxpayer/resident/business keep an eye on how your money is being spent by this Administration/Commission and how your town is going to look according to the new Master Plan they approve …

A special thanks to all those who chose to participate in this year’s event and those who provided the photos posted on this site ….A special thank you must be said to our Town’s three public safety providers … VFD/BSO/AMR for their quick response when faced with the tragedy they encountered this afternoon while preparing for their slated July 4th sea rescue demonstration … The BSO report put out tonight states that due to the timing of that July 4th demonstration more young lives were not lost today and for that we are all thankful…

‘A 7-year-old boy, who has not been identified, apparently drowned in the ocean about 3:30 p.m. Monday during a holiday family gathering at El Prado Park on the 4500 block of North Ocean Drive, officials said. (Patrick Pointu, courtesy / July 4, 2011)

Sentinel…

‘A 7-year-old boy drowned while swimming on the beach at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Monday afternoon in the midst of a July 4 celebration.

The boy, Carrington Clarke of the Bahamas, apparently drowned about 3:30 p.m. during a family gathering at El Prado Park on the 4500 block of North Ocean Drive, officials said. Carrington and his brother had flown into Fort Lauderdale from the Bahamas Sunday to visit his uncle, Jameka Ferguson of Fort Lauderdale. Ferguson said the boy stays with him every summer.

The family went to the beach with friends Monday afternoon and had planned to watch the fireworks at night, Ferguson said.

The group included three adults and eight children. Around 3:27 p.m., Carrington and three other children attempted to swim to a sand bar about 50 yards from shore, Broward Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Dani Moschella said.

An 11-year-old girl made it, but when she turned around, she noticed the other three struggling in the water about half-way between the shoreline and the sand bar, Moschella said.

Adults jumped in to rescue the children, but 7-year-old Carrington slipped underwater, and the adults lost sight of him. About 10 to 15 minutes later, a BSO helicopter located him about 100 yards south of where he was last seen. A Lauderdale-by-the-Sea volunteer firefighter on a wave runner and lifeguards pulled him from the water. Paramedics performed CPR and transported Carrington to Holy Cross Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:28 p.m.

The drowning happened just before a planned rescue demonstration, so lifeguards, volunteer firefighters and American Medical Response were on scene when a lifeguard noticed several children in distress in the water, Moschella said.

The Broward County Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.

The town was holding a Fourth of July celebration at the beach, featuring two giant waterslides from noon to 4 p.m. and a skim boarding competition from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., according to an event flyer.’

Victim(s):

Suspect(s):

Description of Incident:

A 7-year-old boy was visiting Florida for just a day before he drowned in the Atlantic Ocean as family, friends, lifeguards and firefighters frantically searched the water for him.

Carrington Clarke, 7, had flown into Fort Lauderdale from the Bahamas yesterday with his cousin to visit his uncle, Jameka Ferguson of Fort Lauderdale. The three went with friends to the beach Monday afternoon. The group included three adults and eight children. Around 3:27 p.m., four of the children – ages 7, 11, 13 and 14 – attempted to swim to a sand bar about 50 yards from shore. An 11-year-old girl made it, but when she turned around, she noticed the other three struggling in the water about half-way between the shoreline and the sand bar. Adults jumped in to rescue the children, but 7-year-old Carrington slipped underwater, and the adults lost sight of him. About 10-15 minutes later, the BSO helicopter located him about 100 yards south of where he was last seen. A Lauderdale-by-the-See volunteer firefighter on a wave runner and lifeguards pulled him from the water. American Medical Response (AMR) workers performed CPR and transported Carrington to Holy Cross Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:28 p.m.

Coincidentally, around the time of the incident, the city had planned a rescue demonstration that was to include a simulated drowning, so residents could witness how an ocean rescue might happen. Because of the demonstration, lifeguards, volunteer firefighters and AMR workers were already on scene.

The Broward County Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.

Dear Readers …this writer heard that as the VFD was set to do their scheduled July 4th sea rescue demonstration it turned from a rescue demonstration into a real sea rescue that involved three children …Two were rescued and the third we are told was spotted by the BSO helicopter …Tragically it was too late for the seven year old … Below is the 1st Sentinel two reports from online… Channel 10 news came on scene later on as well….We are also told that both the VFD and the BSO did a very commendable job on such an active and busy day in LBTS…

‘Boy reportedly drowns at beach during Lauderdale-by-the-Sea July 4 event

5:47 p.m. EDT, July 4, 2011
A 7-year-old boy has reportedly drowned while swimming on the beach at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Monday afternoon in the midst of a July 4 celebration.

The incident happened about 3:40 p.m. at El Prado Park on the 4500 block of North Avenue, town spokesman Steve d’Oliveira said. The boy, who has not yet been identified, was transported to a local hospital where he died about 5 p.m., d’Oliveira said.

Broward County Sheriff’s Office
Broward County

D’Oliveira said the Broward County Sheriff’s Office is investigating. A Sheriff’s spokeswoman could not be immediately reached Monday evening.

The town was holding a Fourth of July celebration at the beach, featuring two giant waterslides from noon to 4 p.m. and a skim boarding competition from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., according to an event flyer. A sea rescue demonstration was scheduled from 3 p p.m. to 3:30 p.m., the flyer said.

A 7-year-old boy drowned while swimming on the beach at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Monday afternoon in the midst of a July 4 celebration.

The boy, who has not been identified, apparently drowned in the ocean about 3:30 p.m. during a holiday family gathering at El Prado Park on the 4500 block of North Avenue, officials said.

The drowning happened just before a planned rescue demonstration, so lifeguards, volunteer firefighters and American Medical Response were on scene when a lifeguard noticed several children in distress in the water, Broward Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Dani Moschella said.

After safely retrieving several children, the rescue workers realized one boy was still missing, Moschella said.

A BSO helicopter pilot immediately responded and located the boy in the water. He was transported to Holy Cross Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Homicide detectives are investigating.

The town was holding a Fourth of July celebration at the beach, featuring two giant waterslides from noon to 4 p.m. and a skim boarding competition from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., according to an event flyer.’